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But now our pictures show that diners will be greeted by a wonderfully impressive interior too when the venue opens on December 13.

It’s a very special circular building and you will notice something different about it as soon as you walk inside.

There’s a small dome shape just above your head and for some strange reason, no doubt to do with the acoustics, you can hear an echo of what you’re saying.

Glance to the left or the right and you see the first of several dining areas. The plush and mostly orange-coloured seats mix in well with the ivy green coloured walls.

A look inside The Ivy

Catering for 218 covers in the colder months and 238 when it’s warm enough to have tables on an outside terrace, it will be one of the biggest eating areas in the town.

The main space is in the central dining and bar area under the 15m high dome.

The fully restored dome

The view is spectacular whether you gaze up at the ceiling or straight ahead at the splendid circular bar in the middle of the room.

There are tables all the way around and even at the bar.

Some might be a tad snug for those not wanting to eat too close to other people but then there are six booths to opt for if you want more space.

One of the booths

The fact that the building is listed means there cannot be any art work on the walls of the central area.

But there’s plenty in other parts of the site, giving a nod to Cheltenham’s spa history, its magnificent buildings and its national hunt racing.

There’s also some slightly off the wall illustrations on the walls. Some reflects the Art Deco style that is a theme within the group’s restaurants but others fall into the modern art category.

A wander up the stairs to the toilets sees you pass a great many pictures of insects and also takes you by two fascinating remnants of the building’s time as a bank. They are super-thick doors, behind which no doubt lay enormous amounts of money back in the day.

It all feels very opulent and stylish, with lots of parquet and marble flooring, but bosses at The Ivy insist it will be affordable and open to everyone.

They plan to hold back some tables every day for those who want to walk in off the street and who have not booked.